Breastfeeding your new baby can be one of the most intimidating and challenging tasks you’ll face as a new mom. While nursing is a natural thing, it does not necessarily come naturally. There’s a learning curve for sure and half the battle is just making sure you have all the supplies you need for success.
I personally am on my second breastfeeding journey. I was able to nurse my first daughter successfully for almost 18 months as a full-time working mom, and now am at it again with my 7 month old son. Over the last few years, I have tried a plethora of products and have settled on my holy grails. Without further ado, these are the breastfeeding essentials I think every new mom should have.
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Pain Relief Essentials
Lanolin Nipple cream
Lanoplin nipple cream soothes chapped, cracked, irritated nipples. It is safe for baby while providing relief for mom.
Lansinoh TheraPearl 3-in-1 Hot or Cold Breast Therapy Pack
These gel packs are a life saver when you’re dealing with engorgement! Just pop them in the microwave or freezer for much-needed hot or cold therapy. I like to warm them up and wrap them around my breast while I pump to help loosen clogged milk ducts.
Ibuprofen
Ibuprofen is one of the few pain relievers that is safe to take while nursing. When the milk first comes in, Ibuprofen is definitely one of my breastfeeding essentials for relieving the pain from engorgement.
Mom’s Essentials
Nursing pads
If you don’t buy anything else, grab some disposable or reusable nursing pads! They will help you avoid wetting through your shirt should your milk leak throughout the day or night (spoiler alert: they WILL leak).
Nursing bras
The days of wearing bras that you have to unclip from the back are over my friend – at least for a little while. Nursing bras are bras that are specifically designed to open at the front to make breastfeeding easier/more accessible for baby. I always suggest buying two types: 1.) stretchy sleep nursing bras to wear while you sleep or lounge around the house, and 2.) structured nursing bras to wear in settings that require you to be more put together.
Nursing tops
Much like the bras, having shirts that are easy to unclip and pull down from the front is a must. These nursing camis are comfortable and easy to clip off for quick access to the breast.
Feeding Essentials
Bottles with slow flow nipples
If you plan to give baby pumped milk, finding the right bottle is important. Ideally you want a bottle that has a nipple that mimics the shape of the breast and flow of nursing. This will help avoid baby having a preference for one feeding method over the other. Based on my experience with several different brands as well as advice from lactation professionals, my top two are the Evenflo Balance Wide Neck bottles and Avent Natural bottles.
Nursing pillow
As your baby grows you’ll find yourself popping him or her on the boob in all sorts of different positions, but in the beginning while you’re still getting acclimated, having a nursing pillow comes in clutch. My absolute favorite is the My Brest Friend nursing pillow. It straps onto you tightly (so baby can’t slip through) and is large enough to support baby’s body. It has a deep pocket to hold your phone and/or water bottle and – this is the best part – the wide band provides comfy back support. Run to the store (or Amazon) and grab this before it’s sold out. This is for sure one of my all-time breastfeeding essentials!
Nursing cover
If you are on the more modest end of the spectrum and want to feed baby or pump in public, a nursing cover will definitely be one of your breastfeeding essentials. I prefer the type that have the large opening at the top, so baby is always in view and is still getting good airflow.
Pumping Essentials
Double electric breast pump
If you plan to do any extensive pumping, you will need an electric hospital grade pump. I personally have tried both the Medela Pump In Style and the Spectra S2 and loved them both. You can’t go wrong with either one. Pro tip: most insurance policies will provide you with a pump for FREE, so be sure to check with your provider first before coming out of your own pocket.
Manual Breast Pump
An electric pump is great, but I always advocate for having a manual pump as a backup. I use my manual pump for situations where I either can’t drag my large electric pump out or I don’t have time to. Medela’s manual pump actually drains each of my breasts faster than the electric so if I’m on a time crunch, I’ll opt for the manual.
Hands-free pumping bra
You don’t want to have to hold the flanges up to your breasts the whole time your electric pump is going. Invest in a pumping bra so your hands can be free to do other tasks while you pump.
Breast pump bag
A pumping bag or tote is one of the working mom’s breastfeeding essentials. Get one that is large enough to carry your pump, bottles, pumping bra, and other pumping essentials. I am currently loving the Maximalist pumping bag from One Pumped Mama – a small black woman-owned business with amazing products and great customer service!
Breast milk storage bags and bottles
You’re going to need something to store all that liquid gold in. I personally love this storage set from Medela. I use the bottles for short term storage in the refrigerator before I move the milk to storage bags for long-term storing in the freezer.
Medela Breast Pump Wipes
These no-rinse wipes come in handy when you’re pumping on the go or at work. They are easy to pop in your purse or pump bag and don’t require rinsing off.
Medela Quick Clean Sterilizer bags
I like to sanitize my pump parts regularly, but don’t always have time to boil items on the stove or run a full sanitizing cycle on the dishwasher. These steam bags will sterilize a good amount of pump parts and bottles in as little as 2 minutes!
Insulated lunch box and ice pack
Another pumping essential, a good insulated lunch box with an ice pack will keep your milk at a safe temperature until you can get it home and in the refrigerator.
Haakaa breast pump
The Haakaa is a manual silicone pump that works almost like a suction cup. Use this to catch any letdown that comes from the breast that baby is not feeding on. I used to lose so much milk, because while baby was eating from one breast, my other breast would be leaking like crazy. I use the Haakaa now to catch the excess milk so none of it goes to waste.
Nutrition essentials
Postnatal vitamins
Just like prenatal vitamins help ensure your body has the nutrients it needs to support you and your growing baby in utero, postnatal vitamins help ensure you have the nutrients you need so support your post-baby body and your little nursling.
Large water bottle or tumbler
Hydration is so important when breastfeeding. Being hydrated helps keep your energy up and your milk supply strong, but most moms don’t consume enough water. Having a large pre-filled bottle nearby helps to ensure you are meeting your body’s need for water. My go-to latelt has been this Stanley tumbler dupe from Amazon.
Vitamin D drops
If your baby is breastfed, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends breastfed and partially breastfed infants be supplemented with 400 IU per day of vitamin D beginning in the first few days of life1. There are many vitamin D supplements to choose from. For both of my baby’s, I’ve stuck with Enfamil’s D-Vi-Sol, and it’s worked well for us.
Essentials money can’t buy
Out of all the products you can add to your cart, the most important breastfeeding essentials you can acquire can’t be purchased. They are confidence and adaptability.
You need to be confident in your ability to meet your baby’s needs, and that may be through exclusively nursing, exclusively pumping, supplementing with formula, or a combination of all three. While I truly believe “breast is best” from a nutritional standpoint, a well-fed baby is the ultimate goal.
That’s where being adaptable comes in. If your original feeding plan is not working, please don’t be afraid to pivot and do what’s in the best interest of you and your baby’s health. With my first child, I exclusively breastfed for almost a year and a half, because I had an oversupply of milk. This time around, my supply is lower, so baby Jonathan has been fed a combination of breast milk and formula. I want you to know that both ways are OK. Both ways are valid, legitimate ways to do what’s best for your baby. I need you to be willing to adapt and have the confidence to do so to ensure you are doing what’s best for you and your little one.
Sister, I am cheering you on in this new journey you are embarking on. If you have any questions or need support, feel free to drop a comment below or email me at hello@jasminerutledge.com. I am happy to support you in any way I can.
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